Veterans’ tips for getting through a hard winter
By Kristopher Madden
Observer Contributor
When it gets cold, your body and your equipment want to quit and no one has time for that. Luckily, the Veteran community at Mount Wachusett Community College has over 100 years of accumulated service time and more than a few tips and tricks to make yourlife easier when the going gets tough.
First Lieutenant Victor Dhliwayo, former Mortar Infantryman and Media Arts and Technology major, recalls his arctic warfare training from Fort Richardson, AK.
“Most importantly, dress in loose layers,” Dhliwayo said. “You don’t want tight things against your skin unless the fabric is specially designed to wick sweat. You want room for air to be able to move in your clothes because your body makes its own heat. You just want to keep that heat in but not make you sweaty because if you get sweaty, you’ll freeze.”
“Gloves and a hat are both the second most important things,” he added. “You need to keep your hands warm because you use your hands a lot and can’t just have them in your pockets all the time. Plus, if your hands get cold then the rest of you will feel cold, because you’ll be thinking of how cold your fingers are. Get a good pair with touchscreen pads on the tips, so you don’t have to take them on and off all the time.”
Next, vehicle maintenance is the backbone of any armored battalion and many students drive to school and work. Check your oil regularly, try to maintain your brake pads and familiarize yourself with your vehicle. It’s your lifeline and if you fail to take care of it, it will fail on you. Private First-Class Danielle Lohler, a Heavy Equipment Operator in the Massachusetts National Guard and Legal Studies major, cannot stress the importance of preventative maintenance and checks servicing (PMCS) for your vehicle.
“Whether it’s half a ton or 30 tons, it needs oil, it needs its filters changed and it needs brake pad maintenance,” she explained. “If you make sure these things are all good before it gets too cold outside, you’ll cut your chances of car problems down by a lot. Check your belts, check your hoses regularly and listen for any strange new sounds. Breaking down in the winter is a lot harder than breaking down in the summer.”
Finally in addition to your vehicle, it’s equally important to watch your health.
Sergeant Andrew Brunell, United States Marine Corps Infantryman and Human Services major, said “Cold air is dry air. Carry some lotion and make sure you drink enough water. Also keep an extra pair of socks and a gallon sized Ziploc bag in your backpack. If your feet get wet from the snow, you’ll have dry socks as well as a bag to put your wet ones in.”
“It’s a good idea to keep your nose and mouth covered when you’re outside, too,” he added. “Breathing cold air can dry out your respiratory system, increasing your chances of catching something.”
Sarah McNary, RN, MSN, former Lead Nurse Case Manager for US Special Operations Command and current VA liaison for student veterans, said that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is commonly associated with Vitamin D deficiency as well as a lack of stimulating brain activity.
“Studies have shown that using your hands will ‘light up’ over 40% of your brain,” she said. “Similar tests have shown that moving your facial muscles will activate another 40% of your brain.”
According to McNary, “the best thing you can do to maintain your mental health in the wintertime is to stay active. Go outside at least 15 minutes a day and spend some time in the sun if you can. If for whatever reason you can’t, make sure you take Vitamin D supplements. Stay hydrated and eat well.”
“Being cooped up inside during the dead of winter is a great time to pick up a new hobby like knitting or playing an instrument,” she added. “And if you learn to sing while you learn an instrument, you’re using those facial muscles as well.”
She paused before adding, “My professional recommendation to anyone feeling the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder would always be to start with a Will Farrell movie.”
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